How much is a clean beach worth? The impact of litter on beach users in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.

摘要: tranded and discarded litter detracts from the aesthetic quality of beaches, quantities on South African beaches continue to increase. We estimate deterrent effect this has beach users, consequent regional economy. An interview survey was used determine importance cleanliness local non-local users. Cleanliness stated as most important factor in influencing choice beach, especially by foreign tourists. Almost half respondents Cape Metropolitan Region are prepared spend more than seven times average trip cost visit clean beaches. Furthermore, up 97% value these could be lost a drop standards cleanliness. Litter densities 10 large items per metre would deter 40% tourists, 60% domestic tour­ists interviewed, returning Town. The impact economy loss billions rands each year. A Travel Cost approach esti­mated total annual recreational selected Peninsula, Africa, at between R3 million R23 million. variation is due num­ber assumptions inherent Method, extrapolations limited data available. Beach cleaning within clearly necessary, however, expenditure during study period (R3 1994-95) high relation recre­ational value, alternative methods reducing debris source required improve